About Me

Melissa White

Hello, and thanks for visiting my blog! My name is Melissa, and I love being a teacher. This is my 12th year of classroom teaching, both in regular and special education. Before that, I worked for more than a decade with a non-profit children's charity in Cleveland's inner city.

In my spare time (hmmmm?), I teach graduate and undergraduate education courses in reading and special education. I love collaborating and sharing with other teachers, and this blog helps me to do a little bit more.

My passions in teaching include integrating technology, using hands-on activities in math and science, and differentiating instruction for students with various needs. I also have an extensive background in working with students with autism and emotional disturbance, and teach workshops to parents of children with these needs.

Last, but best, I am mom to one terrific daughter! She makes each day brighter, and is the inspiration for what I do each day!

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Are the holidays REALLY on the way? I have to say the unseasonably warm
weather these last few days has kept me referring to the Christmas lights
around town to be sure that it’s December!
This Ohio girl is missing the snow now and then! However, I won't complain, will I? :)

I LOVE this time of year, and the excitement in the air. It’s so fun to relive Christmas through the
eyes of the kids, and to celebrate meaningful traditions all over again. So, it is time again to bring out my favorite
Christmas activity: “Christmas Around the World.” Coming from a community where there is rich
diversity and learners from all over the globe, I love learning with the
students the many special different ways that cultures celebrate this time of
year.

A few years back, I created this Smart notebook “Christmas
Around the World.” Designed for the
primary grades, this highly interactive Smart notebook explores how Italy,
Germany, Mexico, Sweden, Israel and Holland celebrate the holidays. This
24-page notebook includes information on peoples, homes, people, and foods from
each country, and includes web links and even sound clips! Students can touch
the menorah to light the candles, "unwrap" presents to see hidden
pictures--even play the dreidel game and learn to say "Merry
Christmas" in different languages! This lesson also highlights map skills,
and can be used to supplement a Social Studies holiday unit. I use this in the
classroom in combination with art projects and literature. It's lots of fun and can be enjoyed at once, or over a series of days as students study the various countries.

One quick note:
there are several web links embedded in the notebook and at first they
may appear to be uncooperative. Opening
Firefox as your browser should do the trick, and they should all work fine! J Allow a few seconds to load, but each link is
worth it! Check out my TPT store to see more and hope you enjoy it as much as I do! :)